Winter Tips to Preserve Your Patio Furniture

Keeping your outdoor furniture lasting from year to year can be a challenge, especially if your winters are wet or extremely cold. Your material choices will matter a great deal in keeping your furniture looking great. In addition, you will want to store it somewhere it’s protected from the challenges of cold weather.

Indoor or Outdoor?

If you have space to store your outdoor furniture indoors, make sure to clean it well before moving it so you don’t transport any pests such as spiders or ants. In addition, make sure that the furniture and any soft goods such as cushions are completely dry to avoid mildew or mold. Finally, if you’re storing cushions in a shed, be sure to seal them in rodent-proof bins once they’re dry, or you may offer local mice the chance to line their nests the foam and fiber from your patio furniture.

Wood or Metal?

Check your outdoor furniture for signs of rot or rust. Make sure that the joints of your wooden chairs and tables are tight and the furniture is solid. Study your metal patio furniture for signs of rust. If you see any, you may be able to scrub away the rust and coat it in paste wax.

Start with a Stack

If you need to store your furniture outdoors, try to gather it into a central location so you can stack small pieces such as side tables or folding chairs under your larger dining table. Don’t put the stack of furniture against your house as moisture may build-up and cause damage to the furniture or your siding. Once it’s all gathered, cover it to protect it from moisture.

Use a Tarp

If winters in your area are especially wet, consider putting down a tarp before you start stacking your outdoor furniture. Place all the items under the largest surfaces, then cover the entire stack with a large piece of plastic sheeting. Secure the plastic sheeting with a tarp which you can secure to the stack. The plastic sheeting will break down over time; the tarp will not. Make sure you’ve moved all the cushions indoors.

When it comes time to uncover your furniture, be aware that things may be musty. You may need to hose the furniture down or scrub it with a long-handled bristle brush. If your neighborhood is home to feral cats or wildlife such as opossums, consider removing the top tarp, loosening the plastic and leaving the stack alone for a night while you play some music on your patio so unwanted visitors can clear out.

Evan Shaner